goldmom

I am a long time NCL cruiser and currently Diamond Latitude. I read recently on cruise critic that NCL has now started added all types of fans to their prohibited list. I would respectfully ask that NCL Corporate re-evaluate this decision or at least amend it. I take a small battery (using D batteries) operated fan or USB fan with me on vacation I have done this for the past 10 years since a entered menopause. I also use a fan at home and have not slept without a fan blowing on me for 10 years. I will not be able to sleep without a fan which means that I will no longer be able to go on NCL cruises. I can understand banning electric fans, but to ban battery operated or USB operated fans makes no sense and will certainly impact many people's cruising decisions. Please rethink this decision or at least allow those of us who need a fan to sleep to be allowed to at least bring a battery or USB operated fan onboard with a doctor's note. There are many of us for who a fan is a medical necessity in order to sleep. Here is the e-mail I sent basically I'm just asking them to re-evaluate no matter what prompted them to make the decision in the first place.

I am sending an e-mail to the corporate office address shown above and ask them to re-evaluate this decision. I would suggest that anyone else here on these boards who are unhappy with this also write an e-mail.

I have also taken a fan on cruises for many years. I have the battery type that use a USB port to charge and also another one that uses only D batteries, so no cord no recharging. I guess I will bring them both on my next cruise and hopefully they'll let me keep one or both if there's an issue. I honestly don't know if I'd be able to sleep without the fan.

If you earn enough points during this year to qualify for the next level (Ruby or whatever) they will upgrade your card immediately and you wouldn't have to wait until April 1, 2024 to be at the next level. You would just have to earn the entire amount of points required for that level.

You are way too polite. I would have spoken to the host/hostess and told them that I had been waiting xx minutes and still hadn't had my order taken. That or try to flag down a server. Glad you had the delicious cake back in your cabin. Safe travels home.

Every casino I have a card for you need to qualify for your upper level tier every year, unless to have the basic entry level that everyone who signs up gets. If you have a Casino that lets you keep your premium level for more than a year consider yourself lucky! CAS points definitely reset once a year. The only time they didn't was during the pandemic when they weren't sailing. Then they allowed people to stay at their current levels for more that a year.

And that's what makes cruising great. Everyone can do what they want. Even within the same family you have different personalities. Some may be sun worshipers who love the noise and energy of the pool deck, others may like the tranquility of the spa, and others may enjoy a cool air conditioned space to relax and watch the world go by. A cruise ship manages to meet the needs of all different types of passengers.

I think the fan on the prohibited list must be a recent addition. I have taken a fan for years and never had a problem. I can understand prohibiting electric fans, but battery operated or USB fans seems to not make much sense. I really need a fan to sleep also. I'm going to pack it and just see what happens. It works on D batteries so no way is it a fire hazard.

We've sailed the Gem many times. There is a Courtyard butler who will serve breakfast and lunch in the Courtyard and will also get drink orders. As mentioned, he's only there from like 7-5 and isn't in constant attendance. Sometimes you have to wait awhile for him to appear and take your order. The Concierge is usually in the bar area of Moderno during breakfast and maybe lunch time. Otherwise he's a phone call away. The Haven area is small. There is the small pool, and a hot tub and lounge chairs. The upstairs area is really nice with big cushiony seating. Just an FYI, the only way to access the upper sundeck area is a short flight of stairs. While it doesn't have all the amenities of the larger Havens on newer ships, if you can get a good deal or an upgrade it's a nice place. I just don't feel it's worth the prices they are currently charging. On the Jewel class my feeling is that a non-haven suite with all the other amenities is probably the way to go. Enjoy, whatever you decide.

Wow, you're definitely getting spoiled and have a great butler. We were in the Haven the week before you and only got one pitiful tray of snacks each day even after we had mentioned to the butler that we didn't want the sweets and liked fruit and cheese. Oh well, the luck of the draw I guess. Enjoy!

We had a very similar experience in the Haven on the Gem a few weeks ago. We still had a great cruise but found the butler service lackluster in comparison to past cruises. Again, like you, we wondered if the very sad one plate afternoon snack was the result of new policy or if it was our butler.

We were recently told that the $35 limit no longer applies. Basically, anything that doesn't have an upcharge on the menu is included and you get 1 appetizer, 1 soup or salad, one entree and one dessert. In Cagney's they told us we could have 3 sides. Also, the voucher was good in any restaurant on the Gem.

Wow, this really stinks if they start enforcing this. I have always traveled with a fan and not sure I can sleep without one. Definitely a new rule as it was never on the "do not bring" list before.

Unless you're arriving very early before or just as they open up check-in, they wouldn't check your time. We did see them making people who had later check in times wait outside because the terminal was too full or at capacity. Once things are moving along, they really don't care about your check-in time. Enjoy!

The app sounds good, but I would still need the air that the fan provides. It's great for those pesky nighttime hot flashes! Also, if I have a fan then DH doesn't complain that the cabin air conditioning is on the "meat locker" setting. LOL!

I always bring a small either battery operated or chargible fan packed in my luggage. Never a problem.

That's so weird. We were on the Gem last week and also skipped Bermuda and got a credit on our account. It wasn't much, like $33 for the 2 of us. Just odd that they don't always give a credit. We had to take it as a cash refund.

PS The $33 was for the 2 of us.

We were on the week before you and also skipped Bermuda. They gave us back something like $33, it just showed up in our account. You either need to spend it onboard or get a cash refund the last day. The Concierge can take care of the cash refund, saves you from having to wait in line at guest services. For some reason they can't put it on your credit card. Enjoy!

We usually cruise NCL, but are considering the YC on Meraviglia. I have a question about elevators. Is there a dedicated elevator within the YC complex or only stairs? If you're unable to go up stairs, do you need to go out to the main elevators in order to access a different level of the YC. The deck plans are a bit confusing as there is something in the YC that looks like an elevator but isn't labeled as "lift". Thanks for any help!

I appreciate the sacrifices you're willing to make in the name of research! And thank you to everyone else for the replies about the elevator. It really eases my mind!

Don't remember if you're in the Haven or not this trip, but if you are could you please verify if the elevator goes to all 3 levels of the Haven 17,18,and 19. DH hasn't seen the sundeck in awhile as the ships we've been on recently only had stairs. Wishing you a great cruise and that all the pre-cruise things go off without a hitch! Thanks

I hear you. They punished you for asking for something "special" LOL! Luckily we had great service both times.

I usually make reservation but that's just me. At least with a reservation once you get to the front of the line you'll be seated. Without a reservation you wait in the line and then many times get a buzzer and wait some more. That being said, it seems that as the cruise goes on the line pretty much disappears. We found that the first night in the dining rooms are often a zoo and try to do a specialty the first night. But, if you don't mind the possible wait and want to be more flexible then you absolutely do not need a reservation. Enjoy!

I agree about the two side rooms, especially with the bars on the sides on the entrance. My DH and I both said we felt like we were in jail or eating at the children's table! Lol! This is always a pet peeve of mine. I make the reservations as soon as they are available pre-cruise. And yet everytime we go to Le Bistro, we are seated at the worst table available. This last cruise we were going to Le Bistro a second night and spoke to both the Maitre D and the concierge to request a window table for our second night. No luck with the window, but at least we made it into the main area.